Like attending a joyous religious service: We Will Rock You, at the Coliseum, reviewed

One of the earliest jukebox musicals has returned to the West End. When the show opened in 2002 the author, Ben Elton, plugged his production on TV chat shows with a wisecracking slogan: ‘We Will Rock You isn’t just a title… it’s a promise.’

The easy-listening storyline draws inspiration from the Old Testament and from Mad Max. We’re in a dystopian future world ruled by faceless corporations that sell mass-produced garbage to zombified youngsters addicted to their mobile phones. A tribe of exiles, the Bohemians, roam the underworld in search of the relics of a vanished culture known as ‘rock’n’roll’. The Bohemians meet a visionary outcast, Galileo, who recites song lyrics that the Bohemians recognise as vestiges of the ‘sacred texts’ that they worship. Galileo leads the search for a holy axe, or guitar, buried in the wilderness that has the power to revive the spirit of rock music.

A timely message nestles within this schmaltzy plot. Today’s youth are brain-dead puppets controlled by international conglomerates that crush their spirits and nullify their desire for freedom. Rock’n’roll is their final hope because it’s the ultimate expression of human liberty. Like the best musicals, this show has the atmosphere of a joyous religious service. Ian McIntosh (Galileo) is a bit too chisel-jawed and dashing for his nerdy role. He has a girlfriend, Scaramouche, played by newcomer Elena Skye. Her slight figure and babyish complexion leave you unprepared for a voice that’s big enough to fill the Grand Canyon. She’s surpassed by Christine Allado (Meat) whose divine looks and astonishing vocal power will knock the chardonnay clean out of your plastic cup. The Rebel Leader is played by Elton himself who doesn’t even pretend to act. He’s enjoying himself.